Solana Beach school janitor pleads innocent to molestation

VISTA - A 54-year-old former Solana Beach school janitor who
allegedly molested a 12-year-old girl pleaded innocent Wednesday to
lewd and lascivious behavior and other charges.

Judge Aaron Katz ordered Michael Douglas Whitecotton back to
court for a readiness conference July 18 and left in place his
$500,000 bail.

The Encinitas resident was arrested Friday following a year-long
investigation by the Internet Crimes Against Children task
force.

Whitecotton allegedly molested the girl on March 1, 2004. Court
documents state that he contacted other girls through the Internet
on April 19, April 25 and June 5, 2004.

The defendant faces 10 years in prison if convicted of lewd and
lascivious acts upon a child under 14 and three counts of sending
harmful matter for the purpose of seducing a minor, prosecutor
Geoff Allard said.

According to his attorney, Tracy Macuga, Whitecotton
communicated with "a few of the fifth-grade girls" at Solana Santa
Fe Elementary School through "instant messaging".

Macuga said she thought his screen name was "papasmurf."

The attorney said outside court her client is innocent of
wrongdoing. At worst, the "instant messaging (was) inappropriate,"
the lawyer said.

The 12-year-old girl, whose identity as yet is not known to the
defense, does not attend Solana Santa Fe, authorities said.

Macuga said the charges came as a surprise to her client, who
has been under investigation since a teacher at Solana Santa Fe
last May saw him handing strips of paper with his Internet screen
name to fifth grade girls.

The teacher reported the matter to the assistant principal.

Macuga said her client was "very cooperative," with authorities
and surrendered his computers to them.

Whitecotton has been on paid administrative leave from the
school since October, authorities said.

Solana Beach School District officials could not be reached for
comment Wednesday.